Suction cleaner diverter valve construction



Aug. 7, 1956 E. J. KASPER 2,757,753

sucw ow CLEANER DIVERTER VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet, l

IN V EN TOR. LMERJ.KA$PER ATTORNEYS 1956 E. J. KASPER 2,757,753

SUCTION CLEANER DIVERTER VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ELMER J. KASPER BY 5 awi ygj ATTORNEYS 1956 E. J. KASPER 2,757,753

sucnou CLEANER DIVERTEIR VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ELMER J. KASPER ATTORNEYS Aug. 7, 1956 v E. J. KASPER 2,757,753

SUCTION CLEANER DIVERTER VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 7

INVENTOR. ELMER J. KASPER ATTORNEYE United States Patent SUCTION CLEANER DIVERTER VALVE CONSTRUCTION 'This invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly it pertains to an 'air 'diverter valve for tank type suction cleaner air outlet ports.

A direct blast of 'air from an air outlet port of a suc- 'tion cleaner is always objectionable, no matter in what direction the air is discharged. When .a suction cleaner is constructed so that its air outlet port discharges a strong air current in a particular direction, the strong concentrated blast may disturb objects or materials in a room in an undesirable manner. For example, the contents of an ash tray may be blown away.

In addition, a direct blast of air is objectionable for the reason that the air moving through the ordinary cleaner outlet may be unduly noisy.

On the other hand, a direct blast outlet port for a suction cleaner is desired under certain circumstances for connecting a hose .thereto when the cleaner mechanism is .to be used as a blower, for instance, when a spray attachment is connected to a "hose on .the blower side of the cleaner.

When the cleaner is to be used as a blower, all restrictions to eflicient air flow should be eliminated. However, these characteristics for cleaner blower use militate against proper use of the cleaner in the normal manner when operated for cleaning purposes, because they result in a direct unmuffied air blast from the unrestricted blower opening.

Accordingly, a problem has existed in the .tank type suction cleaner art of 'how to provide a tank-type cleaner construction with an unrestricted blower opening, .and a muflled cleaner discharge opening, forselective operation of a cleaner as a blower or in .a normal manner, in an inexpensive manner whereby the cleaner may be converted from normal operation to blower operation, or vice versa, automatically upon connection .or disconnection of a blower hose with the .bloweropening without a complicated arrangement .of baffling within the cleaner.

I have discovered that this .problem may be solved by providing a tank-type cleaner with baffled .or :muflled normal .air outlet ports by which .a directblast of air is eliminated during normal cleaner operation. Such air outlet ports preferably are .separate :from or auxiliary to the unrestricted blower outlet provided for connection with an extension hose for use of the .cleaneras a blower. In addition, such normal outlet ports may preferably be located adjacent the blower outlet so .that ,diverter valve means may be employed selectively :toclose or-open the normal ports when the hose .is connected ordisconnected to the blower outlet in connection with blower operation. Finally, filter means may be mounted over the normal outlet ports as a means for further filtering and diffusing the air discharged from the cleaner in normal operation as well as reducing the air noise.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of .this invention to provide a means for diverting air between the blower outlet of'a suction cleaner'and'the normal air outlet.

It is another object of this invention to 'provide air diverter means without the 'use of complicated 'bafiling.

2,757,753 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 ice Another object of this invention is to provide an unrestricted blower opening and a .muflied discharge outlet for selective operation.

Still another object is to provide ,filter and diffusing means for the normal air outlet.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide .an air diverter valve means for a tank-type suction cleaner which is simple in construction and which satisfies the foregoing objects and desiderata.

These and other objects and advantages apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims may be obtained, the stated results achieved, .and the described difficulties overcome, by the discoveries, principles, apparatus, parts, combinations, .subcombinations and elements which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, preferred embodiments of whichillustrative of the best modes in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles-are set forth in the following description, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The air .diverter valve construction constituting .the present invention generally .includesshutter means which is spring-biased in a closed position over the blower outletcf the cleaner, and which is .hingedly mounted so as to be opened with respect to said blower outlet .and closed with respect to adjacent normal cleaner outlet ports when an extension hoseis connected to the blower outlet for blower operation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings :which are illustrative \of preferred embodiments .of the invention, by way of example, and in .which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figures;

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of .a canister type suction cleaner showing a blower outlet and normal outlet ports in the upper ,portion and an air inlet port in :the lower portion thereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, horizontal, sectional view taken on the line .2-2 of Fig. 1, showings diverter valve means in the position closed with respect tto the blower outlet and open with respectto the normal outletand showing in addition an external .air filter on the normaloutlet;

Fig. 3 is .an enlarged, horizontal, sectional view taken on the same plane .as that of .Fig. 2 showing the end of an extension hose inserted within the blower outlet whereby the diverter valve means is opened with respect thereto .and closed with respect to the normal air outlet;

Fig. 4 -is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is afragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken on .the line -5-,5 .of Fig. 3.;

Fig. .6 is an end view of a horizontal type suction cleaner constructed with .the improved air .diverter valve means;.and

Fig. 7 .is .a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of the horizontal wcleaner showing the connection of the .end of an extension .hose in the blower outlet which-connection opens said outlet .andcloses the .normal exhaust.

-In Fig. 1 a canister tank-type suction cleaner --is generally indicated at 1. It includes an upper portion or dome 2 and a lower portion 3 which portions ;are assembled together with .an airrsealing ring-.4 of resilient material, such as rubber .or plastic.

The upper ;porti0.n 21s surmounted with a handle 5 and is provided -wit-h-.a

blower outlet 6,.as wellas normalair outlet ports-formed by a plurality ofperforations or apertures "7.,spaced from blower outlet 6.

The preferred external configuration of the cleaner 1 tric cord 8 extends from the interior of the upper portion 2 wherein an electric motor 8a (Figs. 2 and 4) is mounted and to which the cord is attached. The lower portion 3, having a normal air inlet port 9, serves as a dirt and dust receptacle and is detachably mounted to the upper portion 2 by means of two or more toggle clamps 10. Both upper and lower portions are preferably formed of sheet metal, such as sheet steel.

A diverter valve assembly, generally indicated at 11 in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, is mounted within the upper portion 2 of the cleaner 1 and includes a larger shutter member 12, a smaller shutter member 13, and shutter mounting means 14 (Fig. 4).

As shown in Fig. 2, the smaller shutter 13 closes the blower outlet port 6 on the inside thereof, while the larger shutter 12 closes the normal air exhaust ports 7. The preferred outline shape of the shutter 13 is round to conform with round port 6 and the shutter 12 is preferably rectangular and includes reinforcing edge flanges 120. Both of the shutters 12 and 13 include pivot members and 16, respectively.

The mounting means 14 includes a pivot pin 17 which is attached to the internal surface of the upper cleaner portion 2 by mounting brackets 18. The pivot members 15 and 16 are connected to the pivot pin 17. In addition, the mounting means 14 includes a spring 19 secured about the pin 17 and having end portions 20 and 21. The end portion 20 of the spring 19 contacts the inner surface of the upper cleaner portion 2 (Figs. 2 and 4) and the end portion 21 extends against the shutter 13. Inasmuch as the pivot members 15 and 16 are secured together as by welds or brazing 22 at their overlapping portions, the spring 19 holds the shutter 13 closed over the blower port 6 and holds the shutter 12 open of the exhaust ports 7 (Figs. 2 and 4).

These positions of the shutters 12 and 13 are simultaneously maintained by the spring 19 when the cleaner 1 is used for cleaning in the normal manner. Hence, the air entering the cleaner through the inlet port 9 is discharged through ports 7. On the other hand, when the cleaner 1 is to be used as a blower, a connection hose 23 may be attached to the blower outlet port 6. In Fig. 3 the hose 23, having a rigid cylindrical end member 24, is inserted into the outlet port 6, automatically causing the shutter assembly 11 to open the port 6 and close the ports 7. The end member 24 is provided with one or more bayonet joint slots 24a for connection with bayonet joint pins 6a in the port 6. To assure a better air seal, the periphery of the surface of shutter 12 is provided with an air-seal gasket 25.

Hence, when the cleaner 1 is used as a suction cleaner, the air diverter valve assembly 11 is sustained as shown in Fig. 2 and the air entering the cleaner 1 through the air inlet port 9 leaves the cleaner through the normal air outlet 7. This exhaust diffuses the air because it is perforated to provide many small streams of air.

In addition, the air leaving the cleaner 1 through the outlet 7 may be sound muffled and its diffusion increased by the use of an external filter 26 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 Y

and 5). As a detachable unit the filter 26 includes a cover 27 having perforations 28 and housing end flanges 29, filter media 30, and knurled thumb screws 31, one on each side of the cover and extending through the flanges 29 by which the filter is secured to the exterior surface of the upper portion 2 overlying the perforations of air outlet 7.

Although the filter 26 is optional, it is preferred as a permanent part of the cleaner for the reason that it diffuses the air passing through the outlet 7, as shown by the arrows in Figs. 2 and 4, minimizes the noise created by the air leaving the cleaner 1, and serves as a last stage dust filter for the removal of remaining particles of dust and dirt.

The improved diverter valve construction may be one embodiment of which is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In such a cleaner an elongated housing is provided with an air inlet port at one end and a blower outlet port at the other. Thus, in Fig. 7 a cylindrical housing 35 is provided with an end closure member or bell 36 having a flange 37 overlying the end of the housing for the purpose of securing the bell thereto by means of screws 38. As shown in Fig. 7, the housing 35 encloses an electric motor 39.

The end member or bell 36 is provided with a blower outlet port 41, preferably centrally disposed therein and including at least one bayonet joint pin 42. In addition, the bell 36 includes a recessed portion 43 which is provided with a normal air exhaust port or aperture 44 through which the air is directed when the cleaner is ordinarily used for the purpose of suction cleaning, the blower outlet port 41 being closed at such time.

An air diverter valve assembly generally indicated at 45 is mounted within the bell 36 (Fig. 7) and is adapted to function in a manner similar with that of the air diverter valve assembly 11 in the previous embodiment. Thus, the diverter valve assembly 45 includes shutters 46 and 47 for blower port 41 and normal exhaust port 44 respectively, and shutter mounting means 48 by which the shutters are hingedly or pivotally mounted to the bell 36.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the shutter 46 is a circular outline member having a peripheral flange 49 and is adapted to completely close the inner end of the blower port 41, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, when the end of an extension hose 50 is absent. When the cleaner is used as an air blower, it is the purpose of the bayonet joint pins 42 to secure the hose 50 firmly in place within the blower port 41 at such times as the hose is inserted. At such times an inner end 51 of the hose 50 contacts a protruding portion 52 of the shutter surface at 53 in order to further swing the shutter 46 away from the blower port 41.

Likewise, the shutter 47 is normally in the open position, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 7, with respect to the normal exhaust 44; that is, when the extension hose 50 is not inserted within the blower port 41. Thus, the shutters 46 and 47 are preferably integral with respect to each other and when the shutter 46 is open with respect to the blower port 41, the shutter 47 is closed against the exhaust port 44. Inasmuch as the exhaust port 44 is an elongated opening (Fig. 6), the shutter 47 is of similar configuration and somewhat larger and is provided with a peripheral flange 53 for reinforcement purposes.

The shutter mounting means 48 includes a pivot pin 54, the ends of which are mounted to the inner surface of the bell 36 by means of a pair of mounting brackets 55. The air diverter valve assembly 45 includes a hub portion 56 mounting pivot pin 54. Also, the shutter mounting means 48 includes a spring 57 attached to the pin 54 near one end thereof (Fig. 6) and having end. portions 58 and 59. The portion 59 contacts the inner surface of the bell 36 and the portion 58 overlies the inner surface of the shutter 46, whereby the diverter valve assembly is spring-biased ordinarily in the positions shown by the dotted lines of shutters 46 and 47. The force of the spring 57 is no greater than necessary to sustain the diverter valve assembly 45 in the spring-biased position, and is easily overcome upon the insertion of the end 51 of the extension hose 50.

Thus, when the cleaner is used for the purpose of suction cleaning, the air ordinarily discharges through the exhaust port 44; the blower port 41 being open only when the cleaner is used as a blower, in which event the outgoing air is diverted from the closed exhaust port 44 to the blower port 41.

In Fig. 7 the shutter 47 in the open position serves as an air baffle and minimizes the direct force of the outgoing air. However, in order to more effectively diffuse the air passing through the exhaust port 44 as well as to diminish the sound created thereby, an external air filter 60 is provided in the recess 43. The filter 60 includes a housing 61 and filter media 62. In addition, the housing 61 is provided with at least one aperture 63 in the upper surface thereof as well as an aperture 64 on the side of the housing 61 abutting the external bell surface 36 and aligned with the exhaust port 44, so that air passing out of the cleaner through the exhaust port 44 enters the filter 60 through the aperture 64, passes through the filter media 62 and then through the aperture 63.

The combination of the air diverter valve assembly, together with the last stage external filter in each embodiment, serves the multiple purposes of eliminating direct air blasts emanating from a suction cleaner, muffies the sound of the air leaving the cleaner and filters the air, in a simple construction. Also, the diverter assembly affords a means for diverting air from a filtered diffused exhaust to an open blower outlet port when it is desirable to convert the cleaner from an air suction device to an air blowing device. These advantages are obtained without the use of a multiude of bafiles, valves, and the like. The conversion from a suction to a blowing device is made simply and automatically by the insertion of an extension hose into the blower outlet port whereby the diverter valve assembly is actuated from a spring-biased closed position with respect to the outlet port.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated and described herein is by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown.

Having now described the features, constructions and principles of invention, the characteristics of the new air diverter valve construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results provided; the new and useful discoveries, principles, parts, elements, combinations, subcombinations, structures and arrangements, and mechanical equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In diverter valve construction for a tank-type suction cleaner having a housing provided with an air inlet port and a blower outlet port, said ports having means for detachable connection with an extension hose, and normal air exhaust means spaced from the blower outlet port; the combination of a shutter assembly within the housing for opening and closing the normal air exhaust means and simultaneously closing and opening the blower outlet port respectively, and means for yieldingly holding the shutter assembly closed against the blower outlet port and open with respect to the normal air exhaust means, said assembly being actuated upon the attachment of an extension hose within the blower outlet port automatically to reverse its closing and opening position with respect to said outlet port and normal exhaust means.

2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the shutter assembly is mounted on the inner surface of the housing.

3. In diverter valve construction for a tank-type suetion cleaner having a housing provided with an air inlet port and a blower outlet port, said ports having means for detachable connection with an extension hose, and normal air exhaust means spaced from the blower outlet port; the combination of a shutter assembly hingedly mounted on the inner surface of the housing and including two shutters for opening and closing the normal exhaust means and simultaneously closing and opening the blower outlet port respectively, and means for yieldingly holding one shutter closed against the blower outlet port and the other shutter open with respect to the normal air exhaust means, the shutters being actuated between their respective positions upon the attachment of an extension hose within the blower outlet port automatically to reverse their closing and opening positions with respect to said outlet port and normal exhaust means.

4. The construction defined in claim 3 in which an air filter is attached to the exterior of the air exhaust means.

5. In diverter valve construction for a tank-type suction cleaner having a housing provided with an air inlet port and a blower outlet port, said ports having means for detachable connection with an extension hose, and normal air exhaust means spaced from the blower outlet port; the combination of a first shutter mounted within the housing and normally closing the blower outlet port, a second shutter mounted within the housing and normally open with respect to the normal air exhaust means, and means for yieldingly holding the first shutter closed against the blower outlet port and for yieldingly holding the second shutter open with respect to the air exhaust means, whereby connection of an extension hose with the air exhaust means actuates the first shutter to an open position and moves the second shutter to closed position.

6. In diverter valve construction for a tank-type suction cleaner having a housing provided with an air inlet port and a blower outlet port, said ports having means for detachable connection with an extension hose, and normal air exhaust means spaced from the blower outlet port; the combination of a first shutter for the outlet port hingedly mounted on the inner surface of the housing, a second shutter for the normal air exhaust means hingedly mounted on the inner surface of the housing, spring means for yieldingly holding the first shutter closed against the blower outlet port and for yieldingly holding the second shutter open with respect to the normal air exhaust means, the shutters being movable between their respective open and closed positions upon the attachment of an extension hose within the blower outlet port, and an external air fllter on the normal air exhaust means attached to the housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,240,543 Brown May 6, 1941 2,439,182 Nuffer et al. Apr. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 308,933 Great Britain Apr. 4, 1929 

